LIMA (Thursday, January 26, 2012) – The apparent low bidder for the contract to replace the Reservoir and Fourth Street bridges over Interstate 75 is Eagle Bridge of Sidney.

The contract bid for $7.98 million will be officially awarded within one month following a review of the bidding documents.

Replacement of the two bridges is the first of three projects which will reconstruct Interstate 75 from the Auglaize County line to just north of Ohio 81 in Allen County and through the city of Lima.

The replacement of the bridge structures is phase 1 of the project and will begin this spring. The bridges are expected to be completed at the end of the summer. Construction on the mainline of Interstate 75, which will occur during phase 2 and 3, won’t begin until next year.

The Reservoir Road bridge replacement includes the reconstruction of a portion of Bryn Mawr Avenue. Reservoir Road and the north end of Bryn Mawr Avenue will be closed and traffic will be detoured during construction. Sight distance where the two roads intersect will be significantly increased to meet current standards.

The bridge at the Fourth Street interchange will also be closed. The northbound and southbound entrance ramps to Interstate 75 from Fourth Street will be closed concurrently for approximately 30 days at some point this summer.The exit ramps from Fourth Street to I-75 will remain open; however, traffic will not be permitted across the bridge.

“These bridge structures were in a condition that they warranted replacement first ahead of the major work which will take place on Interstate 75,” said Kirk Slusher, ODOT District 1 deputy director. “We expect interstate traffic to be minimally affected during the reconstruction of these bridges,” he said.

Information concerning the reconstruction of Interstate 75 may be found at the following: